Appendage attachment

ABSTRACT

The invention relates an appendage attachment having a band of plastically deformable material having a first end, a second end, and a length between the first and second ends. The band is wrappable about a user&#39;s appendage by positioning the first end proximate to the appendage and extending the length about the appendage until the second end approaches the first end. The appendage is a genitalia or a limb, depending upon the user&#39;s selection. The invention also relates to a method for providing the appendage attachment.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device that may be worn as jewelry and as anaid for maintaining a penile erection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Erectile dysfunction is typically a condition in which a male hasdifficulty maintaining an erect penis or a sufficiently erect penis forsexual performance. A sexually aroused male usually experiences anincreased blood flow to his penis, resulting in an erection. Theincreased blood flow to the penis normally results in a volume of bloodin the penis that is greater than when the penis is in a flaccid state.This increased volume of blood usually enables the penis to maintain anerection until such time the erection is no longer needed.

However, some males have difficulty controlling the flow of blood awayfrom the penis toward the torso, resulting in an inadequately erectpenis, or erectile dysfunction. The amount of blood flow away from thepenis varies among men having erectile dysfunction and, hence, theextent of the dysfunction varies.

To facilitate maintaining penile erection, traditional constrictor ringsor the like have been used to constrict the blood flow away from thepenis by placing a tightly fitting ring around a base of the penis. Inthis position, the rings typically inhibit blood from flowing backtoward the torso. Generally, these rings are often made of a resilientmaterial so that the rings may accommodate penises of differentdiameters.

Although these rings often accomplish their goal of restricting theblood flow away from the penis, such rings may be uncomfortable formales having larger diameter penises. For these males, a ring ofresilient material may bind upon the penis, sometimes causing pain.Further, because the rings are often made of resilient materials, theyare subject to breakage, particularly over time as the rings arerepeatedly stretched and retracted. In addition, resilient materials arenormally more porous than non resilient materials and may absorb andretain bodily fluids. This may be especially problematic since theserings often come in direct contact with several different types ofbodily fluids. Therefore, the rings may pose a health hazard by being abreeding ground for germs or bacteria.

A further possible disadvantage of a constrictor ring is transporting itin a clean environment until such time it is utilized. In somesituations, the male may be in search of a sexual partner and may wishto transport the ring with him because a sexual encounter may resultfrom the search. in these instances, the male often carries the ring ina pocket or wallet, both of which introduces germs, lint, and otherforeign objects to come in contact with the ring and which may lead toor augment the above mentioned health hazard. Alternatively, the malemay also carry the ring in a carrying case. However, the case may proveto be bulky or cumbersome. Moreover, in certain instances, the male maybe concerned that the case may alert others as to its contents, whichmay lead to embarrassment. Therefore, the male may be dissuaded fromusing the case to transport the ring.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,800 to Rowland seems to disclose an erection trusswhich is a completed loop of surgical tubing having a male-femalefastener assembly for attachment of the ends. However, this patent doesnot seem to address the possible transporting problems mentioned above.This invention, being made of a stretchable material, also does not seemto address the possible breakage or health hazards described above.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,299 to Maveety appears to disclose jewelry made froma planar form of molded rubber or a molded rubber-like plastic materialand having a central portion made of bendable metal. The invention alsoseems to teach that the rubber-like material surrounding the centralportion is quite substantial for encasing the wires that are “foldedback to create overall blunt end portions.” (col. 1, lines 42-3). SeeFIGS. 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16 and 17. Hence, it is possible thatthis invention may not be effectively used as a constrictor ring toconstrict blood flow from the penis toward the torso.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,813 to Weiss appears to disclose an apparatus formaintaining an erection in a male suffering from erectile dysfunction.However, this patent does not seem to address the possible transportingproblems mentioned above.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,852,982 to Faris may disclose a resilient ring fastener.However, the ring does not appear to be adjustable to accommodatevarying objects placed inside the ring. Also, this patent does not seemto address the possible transporting problems or, because the ring ismade of a stretchable material, the possible breakage or health hazardsdescribed above.

What is desired, therefore, is a ring to facilitate maintaining penileerection that accommodates penises of varying diameters. What is alsodesired is a ring that resists breakage despite repeated use. Anotherdesire is a ring that reduces germ and/or bacteria accumulation. A stillfurther desire is a ring that is easily and inconspicuouslytransportable while reducing possible contamination.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Hence, it is an object of the invention to provide a ring thatfacilitates a penile erection without impinging or binding upon thepenis.

It is another object to provide a ring that accommodates penises ofvarying diameters.

It is a further embodiment to provide a ring that resists breakage.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a ring that reducesgerm and/or bacteria accumulation.

A still further object is to provide a ring that is easily andinconspicuously transportable.

These and other objects are achieved by an appendage attachment having aband of plastically deformable material having a first end, a secondend, and a length between the first and second ends. The band iswrappable, or able to be wrapped, about a user's appendage bypositioning the first end proximate to the appendage and extending thelength about the appendage until the second end approaches the firstend. The appendage is a genitalia or a limb, depending upon the user'sselection.

The appendage attachment, when wrapped about the appendage, maintainsits position about the appendage without user intervention. Theappendage attachment is also adjustably positioned in any selected oneof a plurality of positions about the appendage without userintervention or a fastener. The attachment is further adjustablypositioned about any selected diameter of a plurality of diameters aboutthe appendage without user intervention or a fastener.

In some embodiments, the appendage attachment may be removablyinterchangeable with other appendage attachments.

Optionally, a first bead may be secured to the first end for inhibitingcontact between the first end and the appendage. Likewise, a second beadmay be secured to the second end for inhibiting contact between thesecond end and the appendage. In some of these embodiments, a cover maybe included to enclose a diameter of the length, where the cover extendsfrom the first end to the second end for inhibiting contact between thelength and the appendage.

In another aspect of the invention, a method for providing an appendageattachment includes the steps of providing a first end, a second end,and a length of plastically deformable material between the first andsecond ends. The method also includes wrapping the attachment about auser's appendage by positioning the first end proximate to the appendageand extending the length about the appendage until the second endapproaches the first end, wherein the appendage is a genitalia or alimb, depending upon the user's selection.

The method may also include the step of securing a first bead to thefirst end and a second bead to the second end for inhibiting contactbetween the first and second ends and the appendage.

The method may also include enclosing a diameter of the length with acover and extending the cover from the first end to the second end forinhibiting contact between the length and the appendage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a depicts the attachment in accordance with the invention beingwrapped about an appendage.

FIG. 1 b depicts the attachment in accordance with the invention beingwrapped about an appendage of a different diameter than the appendage ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 2 depicts the attachment of FIGS. 1 a and 1 b before it is wrappedabout an appendage.

FIG. 3 depicts a method of providing the attachment shown in FIGS. 1 aand 1 b.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 a and 1 b depict appendage attachment 10 in accordance with theinvention. Attachment 10 includes first bead 20, second bead 30, andlength 40 between first and second beads 20, 30. Length is made of aplastically deformable material and first and second beads 20, 30 eachinclude a spherically shaped object to protect a limb or genitalia fromdirect contact with proximal and distal ends 50, 52 of length 40, whereproximal and distal ends 50, 52 may be rough or sharp.

A plastically deformable material is defined to mean a material that ismalleable, or bendable, but does not return to its shape prior to beingbent. Hence, once bent from a first position to a second position, thematerial remains in the second position without user intervention orobjects holding the material in the second position. The deformablematerial may include a wire with insulation surrounding the wire toprotect the appendage from contacting the wire. For example, a copperwire of 12 gauge may be used with standard insulation that surrounds thewire. Rubber or other resilient material would not constitute aplastically deformable material because they have a tendency to returnto a retracted state or, in the above example, the first position.

As shown in FIGS. 1 a-1 b, attachment 10 is adjustable to be wrappedabout appendages of varying sizes. Although two appendages are shown,attachment 10 may accommodate any sized appendage provided attachment 10may encircle the appendage at least once. In some cases, attachment 10need only be wrapped about a portion of a diameter, or less than onediameter, of the appendage to sufficiently constrict blood flow.

As shown in FIG. 1 a, the appendage may be a limb, such as an arm,wrist, leg, or ankle. Wrapping attachment 10 around the limb permits awearer to easily transport attachment 10 without a separate case orcontainer, which may be bulky or cumbersome. Moreover, attachment 10 maybe aesthetically pleasing to be used to adorn the limb, where attachment10 may further include decorative indicia or various colors.

Optionally, electrical energy may be applied to attachment to facilitateachieving and/or maintaining penile erection. The electrical energy maybe in the form of an electrical shock or pulse to attachment 10. A powersource, such as a battery or connection to an electrical outlet, isconnected to a transducer, which translates electrical energy tomechanical energy, such as causing attachment 10 to vibrate or move. Thetransducer is in communication with attachment 10.

Although a spherically shaped object is placed at each first and secondbeads 20, 30, any smoothly shaped object may be used so long as theobject covers, and inhibits contact between the appendage and, proximaland distal ends 50, 52. Other shapes or objects may include anelliptical bead. Another requirement of the bead is that it does notintroduce sharp corners which may scar the appendage, such as a squareor triangular bead. Moreover, the beads may include various colorsand/or indicia to adorn attachment 10. Beads 20, 30 are attached usingany known or novel manner of attachment to length 40, including adhesiveor fasteners. Although beads 20, 30 are shown to be metallic material,any strong materials resistant to breakage may be used, such as plastic,copper, bronze, iron, and the like.

Because length 40 is made of a plastically deformable material, thematerial does not stretch and/or retract similar to a resilient materialand, therefore, is not as porous as a resilient material. Hence, thereis a lesser likely for length 40 to absorb solid, gaseous, or liquidmatter than a length made of resilient material, resulting in a reducedlikelihood for length 40 to absorb bodily matter and a reducedlikelihood of contamination and health hazards.

Additionally, because length 40 and beads 20, 30 are shown and describedto be made of metallic materials or other strong materials, attachment10 is resistant to breakage.

FIG. 3 depicts method 100 for utilizing attachment 10. Attachment 10 iswrapped to an appendage, such as a limb, by providing 102 an appendage,placing 104 first bead 20 proximate to the limb, extending 106 orbending length 40 of attachment 10 about the limb, and approaching 108the first bead with the second bead. The wrapped position is shown inFIG. 1 a. These same steps of method 100 are applied for applyingattachment 10 to a base of a penis. Because the diameter of the penis isusually less than the diameter of the limb, length 40 may be extended106 or bent about the penis for more than one cycle. See FIG. 1 b.

It is understood that attachment 10 is adjustable to accommodate anydiameter by merely reversing and applying the above mentioned steps.Further, the tension is adjustable as well to any one of a plurality oftensions. In addition, once adjusted to the desired diameter andtension, attachment 10 facilitates maintaining the desired diameter andtension without user intervention or foreign objects to hold attachment10 in place.

1. An appendage attachment, comprising: a band of plastically deformablematerial having a first end, a second end, and a length between saidfirst and second ends; said band is wrappable about a user's appendageby positioning said first end proximate to the appendage and extendingsaid length about the appendage until said second end approaches saidfirst end; and wherein the appendage is a genitalia or a limb, dependingupon the user's selection.
 2. The appendage attachment of claim 1,wherein said band, when wrapped about the appendage, maintains itsposition about the appendage without user intervention.
 3. The appendageattachment of claim 1, wherein said band is adjustably positioned in anyselected one of a plurality of positions about the appendage withoutuser intervention.
 4. The appendage attachment of claim 1, wherein saidband is adjustably positioned about any selected diameter of a pluralityof diameters about the appendage without user intervention.
 5. Theappendage attachment of claim 4, wherein said band is adjustablypositioned without a fastener.
 6. The appendage attachment of claim 4,wherein said band is removably positioned.
 7. The appendage attachmentof claim 1, wherein said limb is a part of an arm.
 8. The appendageattachment of claim 1, wherein said limb is a part of a leg.
 9. Anappendage attachment, comprising: a band of plastically deformablematerial having a first end, a second end, and a length between saidfirst and second ends; said band is wrappable about a user's appendageby positioning said first end proximate to the appendage and extendingsaid length about the appendage until said second end approaches saidfirst end; a first bead secured to said first end for inhibiting contactbetween said first end and the appendage; a second bead secured to saidsecond end for inhibiting contact between said second end and theappendage; a cover enclosing a diameter of said length, said coverextending from said first end to said second end for inhibiting contactbetween said length and the appendage; and wherein the appendage is agenitalia or a limb, depending upon the user's selection.
 10. A methodfor providing an appendage attachment, comprising the steps of:providing a first end, a second end, and a length of plasticallydeformable material between the first and second ends; wrapping theattachment about a user's appendage by positioning the first endproximate to the appendage and extending the length about the appendageuntil the second end approaches the first end; and wherein the appendageis a genitalia or a limb, depending upon the user's selection.
 11. Themethod according to claim 10, further comprising the step of securing afirst bead to the first end for inhibiting contact between the first endand the appendage.
 12. The method according to claim 10, furthercomprising the step of securing a second bead to the second end forinhibiting contact between the second end and the appendage.
 13. Themethod according to claim 10, further comprising the step of enclosing adiameter of the length with a cover and extending the cover from thefirst end to the second end for inhibiting contact between the lengthand the appendage.